How to take apart Toshiba Satellite A300 or A305 laptop
In this guide I will be taking apart a Toshiba Satellite A305 laptop. Also this guide will work for a Satellite A300 series. Basically Satellite A300 and A305 laptops have a similar design but different names.
I start the disassembly process with removing the keyboard as it shown in steps 1-5. Be very careful with the keyboard cable connector on the motherboard. If you break this connector, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard.
Steps 6-9 explain how to access and remove the hard drive, both memory modules and the optical drive. Fortunately, in this model both memory modules could be access from the bottom making the removal/upgrade process very simple.
In steps 10-14 I’m removing the laptop top cover assembly. By the way, both touch pad buttons are a part of the top cover. If one of the buttons feels loose, most likely the plastic bridge connecting this button to the top cover is broken. In order to fix this problem, you’ll have to replace the whole top cover assembly.
In steps 15-25 I proceed with removing the motherboard. I would like to mention that the cooling fan is mounted under the motherboard. If you would like to replace the fan, you’ll have to remove the motherboard first.
In the next post I explain the LCD screen and inverter board removal procedure.
March 10th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I know how to disassemble the laptop, what I need is the little plastic piece or socket that sits on the mother board that connects the power switch.
February 9th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I recommend you add a note to the A305 instructions. In the very first step, removing the Keyboard Bezel is much easier with just a finger nail along the *rear* edge. It pops out very easily. Though not needed for HD replace… While I *am* writing this on the very same A305-S6905, yesterday it Crashed…literally. Three feet off the kitchen counter, landed pretty flat, closed and turned off. After chewing on my heart for a minute or two, I pushed the power button and it made it to the log-on, but KBD unresponsive. Restart led to two succesive “Restart Repair” cycles with one request for the system CD for an unspecified driver, ending in “cannot repair” message. Restart anyway … Well, it’s working, slowly at turn on and off and I’ll be replacing the HD, but thanks for the info anyway.
January 27th, 2012 at 5:35 am
Thanks very much for this
September 10th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Thanks so much for your information. I really appreciate it and plan to make a donation to you after this site was so much help! I was replacing the dc jack/cord and all went well with that. But at Step 11 in the disassembly I cut the ribbon/cable that is plugged into the motherboard and to what I believe is the component above the keyboard that is quick access to PLAY, STOP, FORWARD etc. My specific model is a305-s6916. It looks easy to replace as it seems to plug into component with ribbon/cable then going to motherboard as in Step 11. Its the top right arrow in Step 11 that I damaged. Do you know what the ribbon/cable is or where I can get it? I tried looking myself but can’t find it. Hoping to get it on ebay or something. Thanks so much! so appreciate your time!!
August 8th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I hav a toshiba tecra te2100 that only show yellow light when u press de switch and de fan don’t rotate when press start botton
June 7th, 2011 at 5:04 am
i have toshiba satellite A300 the cd driver is not shown on my computer have no control on it even if cd inside if i give order to open i receive message to put cd inside, i press and does not open, so, how to remove and change, or, how repair?
May 25th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I have taken apart my Toshiba A300 to repair a loose plug-in connection. I put it back together and it fired right up but when I went to get on the internet there was no connection.I have disassembled it again to look at the satellite connection button,but it does not seem to be working, just a loose plastic button. I rewatched the disassembly video and it looks as if there should be another small metal plate or piece connected to this but it is not very clear, can you help me with this? I’m sure I must have not reconnected this right. Thanks
April 19th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
I took apart my A305-S6872 to remove a stuck media card. I was successful in removing the card at the expensive of my sound card. I have reinstalled the sound card drivers but dont seem to be able to get sound. Can someone please help me figure out what connection I could have forgotten to put back together?
Thanks for any help I can get.
March 16th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Toni,
Did you read the disassembly guide? I linked to it at the beginning of the post.
In order to replace the fan you’ll have to disassemble the entire laptop and remove the motherboard.
March 15th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
hi, i have a problem with my toshiba satellite A300 series laptop. it wont start…what could be the problem…please help…thanks.
March 15th, 2011 at 7:52 am
I have toshiba satelitte a300-233. Is it hard to change cooling fan.
Thanks
March 10th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I have the Satellite A305-S6857 Model PSAGOU-O2701V. I can’t get into windows, when I power machine I get a screen that comes up asking “Enter Current Password.”
I need to Remove BIOS Password so I can get windows.
I tried turning machine on & press the delete key / then hit F2 key to go to set up utility but, I then get a completely blank screen or goes back to “Enter Current Password.” Please Help!
February 14th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Great stuff! You saved me a bunch of time!
February 10th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Hi, my laptop is constantly powering off every few turn ons when i have the power plugged in, is there anyway to sort this? its a A300.
This has been annoying me for a while now.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Recently replaced power adapter and battery in A305-S6872 laptop. It worked fine for a solid a week then just seemed to go to sleep. When power adapter is attached, charging lights are on (electric cord and battery icons) but everything goes off when I press the power button and the computer will not start.
January 4th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
nofungi,
It looks like you have a Toshiba Satellite A305-S6857 (PSAG0U-02701V) and the keyboard part number is V000120280 or V000120290.
Probably you can buy single key on eBay. Here’s how to replace the key: http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/03/20/key-fell-off-keyboard/
If you cannot find the key, you can buy a brand new keyboard for about $20 here.
January 4th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I am looking for a single keyboard button that is to the right of the letter ‘m’ on the satellite A305 model PSAGOUO2701V, that is a 2 symbol key (< , ). The plastic piece that connects to the board is ok, but the glued piece on the back of the key has a lower bar broken off. Where can I get a new one or parts? Toshiba says they do not sell it except to buy a new keyboard at $40 w/ a $14 shipping fee. Can anyone help?
December 29th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
i still had trouble taking off my motherboard even
after unscrewing the right screws and disconnecting
the right cables?, what am i doing wrong?.
Reason why i’m trying to take-off the motherboard
is because i’m trying to put a pillar pin with
a screw on top located near the memory cards.
by mistake i took off that screw and the pillar pin
came-off. The only way to put it back is to take-off the
motherboard. I have a toshiba A300-PSAGDA-01 satellite.
Please help me?
November 28th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I have a Toshiba A300 and need to replace the cooling fan, can you advise if this is a simple job, many thanks.
November 18th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Ana,
Here’s how you replace the screen in a Satellite A305 laptop:
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A305/remove-replace-LCD-screen-inverter-1.htm
November 18th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
I have a toshiba a305-6905 trying to replace the screen do a have remove the keyboard
November 10th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Toshiba Satellite a305d-s6848
Is there anything I can do to improve the graphics?
October 8th, 2010 at 11:00 am
cj2600 Says:
… At least i thought that if accu was out from notebook for long time it should have enought charge to at least light up that lamp…
October 8th, 2010 at 9:34 am
I didn’t that and don’t know how to do it in home conditions.Anyway if both accu and ac don’t work
Anyway i about to complete to disassemble laptop. Besides i want also oil cooler and clean inside. So, i have troubles with step 11. I don’t know how to disassemble that three cables with yellow arrows
October 8th, 2010 at 9:34 am
icegood,
Did you test the AC adapter?
It’s possible the adapter is dead and the battery has no charge left.
October 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Actually i have next trouble: after powering it on ac/dc or accu it simply doesn’t turn on. Even indicators of mainboard are not switched (both of accu and main power). Looks like that there is no power to mainboard at all…
October 8th, 2010 at 9:09 am
icegood,
To be honest, you should look at the guide one more time, more closely.
The guide has THREE (3) pages and looks like you are stuck at the page 1.
Or I’m missing something?
October 8th, 2010 at 8:45 am
To be honest , guide is incomplete. At least for A300D. After you remove all screws and want just remove top cover you will faced with two more troubles: connector to mouse-pad and connector to power button. Both connectors have same sockets to mainboard that is sligtky different from one for keyboard. At least i don’t see same unlocker as shown there:
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A305/disassembly-big/disassembly-process-06.jpg
Please make clear that part!
October 4th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
ethan,
No, you cannot. The video card integrated into the motherboard.
October 4th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
hey I have a satellite a305d was woundering if it possible to upgraade the graphics card.
September 29th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Douglasr,
Have you tried reconnecting the video cable on the motherboard? It’s possible the connection is loose and reseating it will fix the problem.